SME snippets October 8, 2013

All the smaller, and often bizarre and humorous, SME-related stories from Australia and abroad that we’ve come across this week.

All the smaller, and often bizarre and humorous, SME-related stories from Australia and abroad that we’ve come across this week.

The team at Google Analytics has announced free online courses that aim to help you become an analytics expert pronto. Staying up-to-date on the latest changes and updates in Google Analytics can be a challenge, but Google’s Analytics Academy aims to reduce that challenge. The first online course, Digital Analytics Fundamentals, is now open for registration. Business owners are invited to register and complete the course alongside a worldwide community of participants during a three-week window starting today (October 8, 2013). The course aims to explain why analytics is important for growing your business; define key concepts and terminology; explain how to plan ahead to capture the insights you need; and explain how to navigate common Google Analytics reports. You can find out all you need to know about enrolling here.

In its latest Business Communicator e-newsletter, the ATO offers advice on a number of pertinent issues, including what business owners can gain from moving to digital activity statements and information about PAYG withholding annual reports. 60 per cent of SME businesses now lodge their activity statements using digital channels, and the ATO is encouraging more business owners to do the same. Read the ATO e-news in full here.

And while we’re on the subject, as the October 31 deadline looms, the ATO is warning taxpayers to protect their personal and financial details following a sharp spike in reports of tax-related email scams. Since June, reports from the public of phishing scams have quadrupled to 15,441, compared with just 3,586 during the same period last year. The ATO advises people to be vigilant of emails that mimic the ATO’s online publications, and to think very carefully before clicking on links and attachments in emails or on social networking sites. The ATO will never send taxpayers an email asking them to confirm, update or disclose confidential information including your name, date of birth, home address, passwords or credit card details. You can report emails purporting to be from the ATO by forwarding the email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Eight out of 10 SMEs in Ireland are reportedly too scared to charge bigger companies interest on their late payments for fear these companies will stop doing business with them. The latest credit watch survey from the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association found 80 per cent of Irish SMEs aren’t charging interest on late payments as they're afraid bigger companies will take their business elsewhere if they do. While this comes from the other side of the globe, we dare say many SMEs in Australia are likewise unfortunately stuck between this rock and very hard place…

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has announced the resignation of its CEO Peter Anderson, effective January 10, 2014. Anderson has worked at ACCI for 12 years, and been Chief Executive for the past six years. The ACCI says Anderson has worked tirelessly to ensure organisation has remained Australia’s largest and most representative business network that represents over 300,000 organisations. Anderson Intends to continue to represent ACCI on a number of important external boards domestically and internationally in the period immediately following his departure, to ensure a smooth transition to the new, yet to be appointed Chief Executive.

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